Newark: Man killed in weekend drive-by shooting identified

NEWARK -- A man killed in a weekend drive-by shooting has been identified as Deandre Jones of Newark, an Alameda County Coroner's spokesman said Tuesday.

Jones, age 22, was gunned down about 4 a.m. on Saturday as he was walking with two women and a 22-year-old Castro Valley man near Thornton Avenue and Mulberry Street, said Cmdr. Mike Carroll. Police say he was shot after a vehicle pulled alongside and began firing at the group.

His death marked the city's first homicide this year.

At the scene, officers found the 22-year-old Castro Valley man shot once in the upper thigh and Jones shot three times -- in the left arm, buttock and thigh, police said. The two women were not injured.

Jones later died at a hospital; the Castro Valley man was also taken to a hospital but was suspected to survive.

Neither a suspect or a motive has been released and the killing remained under investigation on Tuesday.

The last homicide in Newark took place in January 2012.

Police are asking anyone with information about Saturday's shooting to call police at 510-578-4237. Information can also be left anonymously on the "Silent Witness" hotline at 510-578-4965.